HATTIESBURG, Miss. - The Indiana University Kokomo baseball team wrapped up an eight-game stretch Saturday against three top-15 opponents to open the season, falling in an extra-inning thriller to No. 12 Missouri Baptist before dropping the weekend finale to No. 11 William Carey.

FAST FACTS - 8-6 Loss/Eight Innings

• LOCATION: Milton Wheeler Field | Hattiesburg, MS 
• UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo - 0-7, Missouri Baptist - 7-1
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: IU Kokomo - N/A, Missouri Baptist - #12

THE RUNDOWN 

• After a scoreless first two innings, No. 12 Missouri Baptist broke through against IU Kokomo starter Cam Howard in the top of the third, plating four runs to take a 4-0 lead.
• First-year IU Kokomo head coach Kolin Conner's squad responded immediately with a four-spot of its own, evening the score at 4-4 through three innings. Riley Sands opened the rally with a double to left and moved to third on a Bradyn Douglas single before coming home on a shallow sacrifice fly off the bat of Jedvier Garcia.
• The Cougars pushed across their final three runs of the inning with two outs. Max French delivered a two-RBI single to left field, and Corbin Napier followed with a single to right to score Anthony Nino for the fourth run of the frame.
• MBU manufactured a run in the fifth to reclaim a 5-4 lead, doing so on just one hit, a walk, and an error.
• Following Cam Heaney's 1-2-3 top of the sixth, IU Kokomo answered with a two-run bottom half to take a 6-5 lead. Napier led off the frame with a single, and Nate Montgomery reached on a hit-by-pitch one batter later. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt resulted in a fielder's choice, Sands delivered his second double of the game, driving in both runners and giving the Cougars a 6-5 lead with just one inning remaining.
• Missouri Baptist opened the seventh with a walk, and while Heaney recorded two quick outs, the Spartans managed to score on a two-strike, two-out bloop single down the left-field line, knotting the game.
• IU Kokomo loaded the bases with one out on a walk and catcher's interference, with both runners moving into scoring position on a wild pitch. Hot-hitting Corbin Napier was intentionally walked to set up a potential double play and a force at home. Spartan pitcher Quentin Graves responded with a 4-6-3 double play, allowing Missouri Baptist to escape the jam and send the game to extra innings.
• The Spartans carried their momentum into the eighth, as IU Kokomo's defense faltered, committing three errors while Missouri Baptist scored twice on just one hit. Riley Sands reached on a bunt single for the Cougars in the bottom half of the inning, but IUK could not capitalize, and the 12th-ranked Spartans held on for an 8-6 win in eight innings.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• Both Corbin Napier and Riley Sands turned in three-hit performances against the 12th-ranked Spartans, each reaching base safely four times with a walk to go along with their trio of hits. Sands drove in a pair of runs and scored once, while Napier chipped in an RBI of his own.
• Max French drove in a pair of runs, as he and Bradyn Douglas accounted for the Cougars' other two hits in the contest.
• Junior RHP Cameron Heaney was solid once again in relief Saturday, tossing 2.1 innings while allowing one earned run on two hits and two walks, striking out three.

FAST FACTS - 18-4 Loss/Seven Innings

• LOCATION: Milton Wheeler Field | Hattiesburg, MS 
• UPDATED RECORDS: IU Kokomo - 0-8, William Carey - 7-5
• NAIA TOP-25 RANKINGS: IU Kokomo - N/A, William Carey - #11

THE RUNDOWN 

• IU Kokomo jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on two walks and a Crusader error. With two outs, Nate Montgomery singled home Max French for the second run of the frame.
• No. 12 William Carey scored in each of the first three frames, pushing one across in the bottom of the first to cut IU Kokomo's two-run lead in half.
• Taking advantage of numerous free passes from a depleted Cougar bullpen, the Crusaders scored four runs across the second and third innings before adding three more in the fifth, building a 12-2 lead through five frames.
• The Cougars plated a run on two hits in the sixth to keep the game from reaching run-rule territory, but William Carey responded with a six-run sixth inning, ultimately closing out an 18-4 victory in seven innings after allowing an IUK run in the seventh.

LEADING THE CHARGE

• IU Kokomo first baseman Corbin Napier added two more hits in game two, bringing his total to five for the day. Napier is now hitting .375 on the season through eight games.
• Anthony Nino and Nate Montgomery each reached base safely twice against the Crusaders, recording a single and a walk apiece, with Montgomery also driving in a run.
• Noah Wolf and Rodney Rachel provided the Cougars' other two hits in the game.

THE ROAD AHEAD

• Next Games: 2/20: at Indiana Wesleyan - 3:00 PM ET
• Next Home Game: 2/21: vs Indiana Wesleyan - 1:00 PM ET

For the latest news, updates, and information on the IU Kokomo Cougars, fans can visit IUKCougars.com. Fans can also stay up to date on the latest Cougar news by following @IUKAthletics on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.